KNB Scholarship

Open Application/Selection 2026

What is KNB Scholarship?

Kemitraan Negara Berkembang Scholarship, popularly known as KNB Scholarship, is a financial assistance offered by the Indonesian Government to prospective international students coming from developing countries to pursue their master’s degree in one of Indonesian universities. The scholarship was conceived in the 10th Conference of Heads of States of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries, 1 –6 September 1992. The Government of Republic of Indonesia began to offer the scholarship to potentional students from NAM member countries in the following year.

The regional exclusiveness of the scholarship was revoke in 2002 since it had developed global interest. It was then the scholarship was officially renamed as Kemitraan Negara Berkembang Scholarship (KNB) and the recipients were no longer limited to NAM member countries. To date, the scholarship has also been offered to other developing countries in Asia, Pacific, South America, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Eventually, the scholarship is expected to build the people-to-people relations between Indonesia and the recipient countries. It aims at nurturing their future leaders.

KNB offers an experience of studying in top universies in Indonesia and at the same me living in one of the world’s most diverse and vibrant society. By getting the scholarship, students will experience quality postgraduate programs managed by the twenty university partners. Their degrees will enhance their intellectual standing, develop their competencies, and open wider professional opportunies, a foundation for post-college success. Certainly, they will also be able to enjoy firsthand experience of living in a mulcultural and multilingual society.

Requirements

Bachelor Degree

The maximum age to apply for the scholarship is 21 years old, no more than December 31st, 2026.
Hold a High School degree. Please be advised that a bachelor’s degree holder is not eligible to apply for the bachelor’s degree scholarship.
Provide a curriculum vitae in English or Bahasa.
Have the English Proficiency Test Score minimum as follows: TOEFL ITP of 477, TOEFL IBT of 53, IELTS of 5,5, TOEIC of 510 or equivalent (the certificate must be obtained within the last 2 Years). Participants of foreign nationality who come from English-speaking countries, or participants from a university who are enrolled in programs in English (stated in the participant’s diploma/transcript), are not required to submit the English Proficiency document by attaching official proof from their home university.
Provide the recommendation letter to apply for the KNB scholarship from the Indonesian Embassy or the Indonesian Consulate General in English or Bahasa. The recommendation letter must be from the applicant’s country of origin, not the country of domicile.
Provide a recommendation letter to apply for the KNB scholarship from the employer/immediate supervisor in English or Bahasa. If currently unemployed, can provide a statement letter.
Provide an Academic Recommendation Letter from previous schools in English or Bahasa.
Provide The Scanned Academic Certificate and Academic Transcripts Copy of High School Degree in English or Bahasa, that has been legalized by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the applicant’s country.
Proof of citizenship by submit Oﬃcial Passport, which is still valid for at least December 31st, 2027. An official passport is a non-Diplomatic Passport or Work Passport.
Provide a video with a duration maximum 5 minutes in English or Bahasa and submit the video to your youtube and the link of the video must be upload in your KNB Scholarship account. The video explains about;
– Profile the applicant;
– Why you choose studies in Indonesia and by KNB Scholarship; and
– Why you choose studies in campus and study program that you choose.
Provide a certified medical report including: physical examination, Infectious disease test (Tuberculosis, syphilis, HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Mpox), mental health test, and a negative drug test (screening for amphetamine, methamphetamine, marijuana, morphine, and benzodiazepines). All documents must be in English or Bahasa and issued within last 3 (three) months;
Willing not to marry/or be married to, engage/be engaged to a de facto person who holds or is eligible to hold Indonesian citizenship or permanent residency or with other scholarship recipients;
Willing to not be pregnant during scholarship period;
Not currently or will be undergoing military service until the end of the scholarship period;
Complete the online application form in http://knb.kemdiktisaintek.go.id

*Note :
1. Please be advised that document (c),(e),(f),(g),(h), and (k) must be in English or Bahasa;
2. Willing to attach Yellow Fever vaccination certificate for applicants who come from and/or reside in Africa.

Master Degree

The maximum age to apply for the scholarship is 35 years old, no more than December 31st, 2026.
Hold a bachelor’s degree. Please be advised that a master’s degree holder is not eligible to apply for the Master’s Degree scholarship.
Provide a curriculum vitae in English or Bahasa;
Have the English Proficiency Test Score minimum as follows: TOEFL ITP of 500, TOEFL IBT of 61, IELTS of 6,0, TOEIC of 575 or equivalent (the certificate must be obtained within the last 2 Years). Participants of foreign nationality who come from English-speaking countries, or participants from a university who are enrolled in programs in English (stated in the participant’s diploma/transcript), are not required to submit the English Proficiency document by attaching official proof from their home university.
Provide the recommendation letter to apply for the KNB scholarship from the Indonesian Embassy or the Indonesian Consulate General in English or Bahasa. The recommendation letter must be from applicant country of origin, not country of domicile;
Provide recommendation letter to apply for the KNB scholarship from The employer/immediate supervisor in English or Bahasa. if currently unemployed, can provide a statement letter.
Provide Academic Recommendation Letter from previous schools in English or Bahasa.
Provide The Scanned Academic Certificate and Academic Transcripts Copy of Bachelor Degree in English or Bahasa, that has been legalized by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the applicant’s country.
Prove of citizenship by submit Oﬃcial Passport, which is still valid for at least December 31st, 2027. Official Passport is non-Diplomatic Passport or Work Passport.
Provide video with duration maximum 5 minutes in English or Bahasa and submit the video in your youtube and the link of the video must be upload in your KNB Scholarship account. The video explains about;
– Profile the applicant;
– Why you choose studies in Indonesia and by KNB Scholarship; and
– Why you choose studies in campus and study program that you choose.
Provide a certified medical report including: physical examination, Infectious disease test (Tuberculosis, syphilis, HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Mpox), mental health test, and a negative drug test (screening for amphetamine, methamphetamine, marijuana, morphine, and benzodiazepines). All documents must be in English or Bahasa and issued within last 3 (three) months;
Willing not to marry/or be married to, engage/be engaged to a de facto person who holds or is eligible to hold Indonesian citizenship or permanent residency or with other scholarship recipients;
Willing to not be pregnant during scholarship period;
Not currently or will be undergoing military service until the end of the scholarship period;
Complete the online application form in http://knb.kemdiktisaintek.go.id

Doctoral Degree

The maximum age to apply for the scholarship is 40 years old, no more than December 31st, 2026.
Hold a master’s degree. Please be advised that a Doctorate degree holder is not eligible to apply.
Obtain a recommendation letter in English or Bahasa from the potential research supervisor in one of the universities providing partner of the KNB Scholarship. The recommendation must be from the same university that you chose.
Provide a statement of purpose that at least states the purpose of their studies, the origin of their interests in studying in Indonesia, and pursuing their chosen research topic, and their plans for the academic future (dissertation proposal) in English or Bahasa.
Provide a curriculum vitae in English or Bahasa;
Have the English Proficiency Test Score minimum as follows: TOEFL ITP of 530, TOEFL IBT of 71, IELTS of 6,0, TOEIC of 640 or equivalent (the certifiicate must be obtained within the last 2 Years). Participants of foreign nationality who come from English-speaking countries, or participants from university who are enrolled in programs in English (stated in participant diploma/transcript), do not required to submit the English Proficiency document, by attaching official proof from their home university.
Provide the recommendation letter to apply for the KNB scholarship from the Indonesian Embassy or the Indonesian Consulate General in English or Bahasa. The recommendation letter must be from applicant country of origin, not country of domicile;
Provide recommendation letter to apply for the KNB scholarship from The employer/immediate supervisor in English or Bahasa. if currently unemployed, can provide a statement letter.
Provide Academic Recommendation Letter from previous schools in English or Bahasa.
Provide The Scanned Academic Certificate and Academic Transcript Copy of Master Degree in English or Bahasa, that has been legalized by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the applicant’s country.
Prove of citizenship by submit Oﬃcial Passport, which is still valid for at least December 31st, 2027. Official Passport is non-Diplomatic Passport or Work Passport.
Provide video with duration maximum 5 minutes in English or Bahasa and submit the video in your youtube and the link of the video must be upload in your KNB Scholarship account. The video explains about;- Profile the applicant;
– Why you choose studies in Indonesia and by KNB Scholarship; and
– Why you choose studies in campus and study program that you choose.
Provide a certified medical report including: physical examination, Infectious disease test (Tuberculosis, syphilis, HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Mpox), mental health test, and a negative drug test (screening for amphetamine, methamphetamine, marijuana, morphine, and benzodiazepines). All documents must be in English or Bahasa and must be issued within last 3 (three) months;
Willing not to marry/or be married to, engage/be engaged to a de facto person who holds or is eligible to hold Indonesian citizenship or permanent residency or with other scholarship recipients;
Willing to not be pregnant during scholarship period;
Not currently or will be undergoing military service until the end of the scholarship period;
Complete the online application form in http://knb.kemdiktisaintek.go.id

*Note :
1. Please be advised that document (c),(d),(e),(g),(h),(i), (j) and (m) must be in English or Bahasa;
2. Willing to attach Yellow Fever vaccination certificate for applicants who come from and/or reside in Africa.

Procedures

Download the KNB Scholarship Offering Letter from the KNB Scholarship website: http://knb.kemdiktisaintek.go.id
Contact the Indonesian Embassy and submit the following documents to obtain a Recommendation Letter from the Indonesian Embassy:
- KNB Scholarship Offering Letter
- Official Passport
- Curriculum Vitae
- English Proficiency Test (for applicants from non-English-speaking countries)
- Recommendation Letter from the Employer/Immediate Supervisor
- Academic Recommendation Letter from Previous Schools
- Academic Certificate and Academic Transcript from previous degree
- Medical Report
- Recommendation Letter from the potential research supervisor at one of the KNB partner universities (for doctoral applicants only)
- Statement of Purpose for studies in Indonesia (for doctoral applicants only)
Submit the following documents:
- KNB Scholarship Offering Letter
- Official Passport
- English Proficiency Test (for applicants from non-English-speaking countries)
- Curriculum Vitae
- Medical Report
- Recommendation Letter from the Indonesian Embassy
- Recommendation Letter from the Employer/Immediate Supervisor
- Academic Recommendation Letter from Previous Schools
- Academic Certificate and Academic Transcript from previous degree
Complete the online application process.
Complete all stages of the selection process (administrative and academic selection), including online interviews and psychological tests conducted by selected universities for eligible candidates.
Selection results will be published online through the KNB Scholarship website and officially announced via the Indonesian Publication Network.

Download KNB Scholarship Guide

Get Indonesian Embassy Recommendation Letter

KNB Scholarship Offer Letter

Programs

Bachelor Degree Programs
No	Faculty	Study Programs	Accreditation
1	Faculty of Islamic Studies	Islamic Economics	Excellent
2	Faculty of Social and Political Sciences	International Relations	FIBAA (International Acreditation)
3		Government Studies	FIBAA (International Acreditation)
4		Communication Science	FIBAA (International Acreditation)
5	Faculty of Teacher Training and Education	English Language Education	FIBAA (International Acreditation)
6		Indonesia Language Education	FIBAA (International Acreditation)
7		Mathematics Education	Excellent
8	Faculty of Psychology	Psychology	FIBAA (International Acreditation)
9	Faculty of Economics and Business	Management	FIBAA (International Acreditation)
10		Development Economics	Excellent
11		Accounting	Excellent
12	Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry	Agribusiness	FIBAA (International Acreditation)
13		Animal Husbandry	ASIIN (International Acreditation)
14		Agrotechnology	ASIIN (International Acreditation)
15		Food Technology	ASIIN (International Acreditation)
16	Faculty of Engineering	Mechanical Engineering	Excellent
17		Civil Engineering	Excellent
18		Electrical Engineering	IABEE (International Acreditation)
19		Industrial Engineering	IABEE (International Acreditation)
20		Informatics	IABEE (International Acreditation)

Master Degree Programs
No	Faculty	Study Program	Accreditation
1	Postgraduate Programs	Indonesia Language Education	Excellent
2		Mathematics Education	Very Good
3		Management	Very Good
4		Sociology	A
5		Agribusiness	Excellent
6		Psychology	Very Good

Doctoral Degree Programs
No	Faculty	Study Programs	Accreditation
1	Postgraduate Programs	Agricultural Science	Very Good
2	Postgraduate Programs	Sociology	B

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What Our Alumni Says

Rania Hamdi Ramadan Elsayed (Egypt)
Master Student at Department of Management, UMM

“I am so grateful to be a part of UMM family. I learned how to accept the difference, how to be myself without any fear or worry, how to speak up, I learned a knowledge that can raise my future family to a better one.”

Thon Thi Thuy Trang (Vietnam)
Master Student at Department of Indonesian Language Education, UMM

“3 tahun perjalanan saya di UMM yang penuh tantangan tapi berakhir dengan Bahagia serta penuh kenangan. Pelajaran hidup yang sangat berharga untuk bekal hidup saya kedepan. Terima kasih UMM, Terima kasih Indonesia.”

Sayed Momin Hashemi (Afghanistan)
Master Student at Department of Management, UMM

“Being a Master student in UMM, gave me a lot of challenges but I enjoyed. I am so blessed that finally I accomplished my study. Thank you UMM, Thank you KNB Scholarship Team.”

Ho Ngoc Hieu (Vietnam)
Master Student at Department of Indonesian Language Education, UMM

“Menjadi mahasiswa S2 UMM, Saya menemukan banyak teman, Dosen, dan Staf yang sangat baik hati dan ramah. Mereka membuat hidup saya lebih bahagia, dan lebih sempurna. I love UMM, I love Indonesia.”

KNB Scholarship at University of Muhammadiyah Malang

BIPA

Indonesian for Foreigners (BIPA for short) is an Indonesian language study program for foreign learners. Therefore, the position of the Indonesian language becomes a foreign language for foreign speakers. The BIPA program is not only dedicated to teaching the Indonesian language but can be enhanced more broadly as a diplomatic tool. A diplomatic tool that allows the government to strengthen the position of the Indonesian nation in the world. Through the BIPA program, other countries can easily get to know Indonesia and open access to establish bilateral or multilateral cooperation. BIPA also has a mission to provide insight into the beautiful Indonesian culture

Vision

Becoming a distinguished and high quality learning service center of Indonesian language, art and culture for foreign speakers based on the national character and personality, both nationally and internationally.

Mission

Organizing quality Indonesian language learning for foreign speakers (BIPA);
Introducing Indonesian arts and culture closely to foreign speakers;
Providing language, arts and culture learning services that are able to meet the needs and expectations of foreign speakers;
Establishing cooperation between BIPA organizing institutions and participating countries of origin.

Objectives

Assisting the government in building a positive image of Indonesia in foreign countries, especially participating countries in the Darmasiswa Program Improving the image of the University of Muhammadiyah Malang as an International Standard Educational Institution Producing graduates of the Indonesian Language, Arts, and Culture Study Program who are qualified (as Indonesian ambassadors abroad)

Learning Activity

NO	ACTIVITIES	NO	ACTIVITIES
01	Demonstration, IT, and Pragmatic based classroom learning	05	Practicing dance, gamelan, batik, and Malang mask art.
02	Field trips (academic tourism) in order to better recognize the Indonesian culture and introduce the culture of Darmasiswa scholarship students	06	Involving in various extracurricular activities, such as silat, photography, and activities in nature (independent activity)
03	Field trips (business tours) to various business products (home industries) in the community	07	Practicing Bahasa Indonesia in society in order to build self-confidence and comprehensive communication
04	Visits to recreational and historic sites (Cultural tourism)	08	Field skill immersion program in farmer houses in Batu

Cultural

KNB Scholarships provide prospective students in developing countries with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills, and subsequently increase their chances of fulfilling these roles in their home country. Opens the opportunity to experience life in one of the world’s most culturally diverse countries. Scholarships are offered to prospective students from developing countries to pursue a master’s degree at a leading university in Indonesia. The program was officially launched by the Directorate General of Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia in 2006 and attracted a significant number of applicants.

The International Relations Office (IRO) of Muhammadiya Malang University introduced Indonesian culture to students of the Partnership for Developing Countries (KNB) Scholarship Program on Wednesday (7 September 2022). The activity was held in Probolinggo, Gilly Ketapang Island. The event was held to show the beauty and local culture of Indonesia students, especially so that they can communicate with the local community. They were very happy to swim together enjoying the beauty of the ocean. “ I think it’s wonderful, we had an opportunity to go to an island, Gili Ketapang, we had many activities with students, it’s so good “ Tomas said (Univercidad de Murcia Proffessor)

LEADERS TOMORROW